The One Trail In New Jersey That Will Lead You To Extraordinary Abandoned Ruins

New Jersey is home to abandoned mills and mining towns, located all over the state. You’ll find what’s left of once thriving communities like Feltville (a mill town, farming community and later a summer resort) and Harrisville (best known for paper production) but finding castle ruins is a bit more rare in the Garden State. I’ve covered Cliff Dale Manor before but I’ve discovered a new site to explore.

Much of the castle burned but exterior walls, a water tower and pool still remain, all of which are pictured above. The first photo in the article is the water tower, the second is an exterior wall and the third photo is what remains of the pool. Directly above this text, you'll notice a fireplace.

The views from the castle, and along the trail to get there, are spectacular.

The ruins are accessible via a moderate trail. From the parking area nearest the Hoeferlin Memorial, you'll take the White Trail. There are several scenic viewpoints along the way. To get to the water tower, you'll pick up the Yellow Trail.

To take a peek at what you’ll see, or to enjoy the ruins without a hike, check out the video below by YouTube user, Matthew L Andzel:

The Van Slyke Castle ruins can be found in Ramapo State Forest, located in Bergen and Passaic Counties. For additional details visit NJHiking.com or check out the Ramapo State Forest Trail Map. Expect around two miles of hiking to see the castle and under five (with some areas of steep terrain) to see both the castle and water tower.